Originally Posted by
CB HI
The last few months, there has been a large jump in the number of threads that claim cyclist cause all their own problems (mostly in A&S but in other sub-forums as well). The first claim in these threads and by their supporters is along the lines “I am a cyclist as well”. The OP then goes along the lines of the bad image that ‘some’ cyclist cause creating problems for everyone else by doing thing like taking the lane. This is followed by claims of the cyclist being rude, arrogant, disrespectful and even unlawful for the supposed claim of ‘impeding traffic’.
In the past such claims against cyclist have been made by people that have clearly never cycled. Fireman Rob comes to mind. (Fireman Rob = a bubba Georgia guy who loaded his motorcycle in a truck with his buddies to drive down to Florida to recreational motorcycle ride and is only a volunteer medic to boost his ego).
These days, when I have dug into the Original Poster and their supporters, I find that most are complaining about cycle commuters or experience road riders in narrow lanes taking the lane while the complainer is driving a truck or SUV. Most times it is during rush hour. Further digging reveals these ‘cyclist’ are weekend MUP riders that think we cycling commuters should not ride on any of their highways or at least should be in the gutter with the glass and out of the way of their SUV/truck.
When we read a news article of a cyclist who get hit with no fault of their own, there is always one of these guys jumping in the comments saying ‘I am a cyclist too, but these guys give us all a bad name, I would never ride on that road, I would never impede traffic, all cyclist should gutter huge and stay out of the way’.
If these guys want to consider cycling as only a hobby, only recreational ride on MUPs, that is OK by me. I have never put them down for their choice of cycling (I have pointed out in threads that they know nothing of cycle commuting). I have never claimed they give ALL cyclist a bad image/name.
So why do these guys feel so compelled to put us cycle commuters and experienced road riders down and blame us for all their woes? Who is REALLY giving cyclist a bad image with their misinformation, demands and claims?
I think that if we were truly aware of the enormous amount of pure hatred and utter disdain many motorists have for all of
us as cyclists, we would find greater reasons to become united and advocate for one another, instead of negatively crticizing one another.
This actually, reminds me of other minority types, as well....
- Slim
PS.
Psychologically speaking, they appear to find greater security in aligning themselves with the majority, regardless as to how irrational the stance or position of the majority.